Social Security Programme 2017-2026: Delivery Report
This delivery report outlines work carried out by the Scottish Government’s 2017-2026 Social Security Programme to build Scotland’s new devolved benefits system
Introduction
The Social Security Programme was established in January 2017 and, after nine years, now closes.
Over that period of time, the Scottish Government has delivered what is by far the largest delivery programme and transfer of powers since the original devolution settlement was created by the Scotland Act 1998. During that time, a new social security system was established from scratch, a new Government agency has been created to administer applications for both new and devolved benefits and the transfer of more than 700,000 cases in payment from the UK Government was completed.
This delivery report documents what we set out to achieve, as well as how and when we achieved it. There was no template to follow or handbook we could draw on. New teams had to be formed and new skills had to be learned.
At every stage in the Programme’s life-cycle we have committed to doing things differently and transparently, including the decision to publish a full Programme business case in 2020 which was refreshed in 2023. The Programme has been recognised for its achievements, receiving several major industry and public sector awards including a Digital and Transformation Project of the Year Award, and the Campbell Christie Public Service Reform Award. And we have enthusiastically shared, both nationally and internationally, the lessons we’ve learned and the approaches we’ve taken.
Most importantly, the people who are using our new system and with whom we co-designed it, continue to tell us that it is working for them. In the most recent Social Security Scotland Client Survey over 75 per cent of respondents said their overall experience was ‘very good’ or ‘good’, with around 80 per cent of respondents agreeing that they had been treated in accordance with our principles of dignity, fairness and respect.
Every single day, we’re now helping many tens of thousands of people right across Scotland live the most fulfilling lives they can, whether that’s entering or remaining in work, raising children, caring for people, managing with an illness or a disability or simply improving their life chances and those of their families.
The Programme’s achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of a sustained and collective effort from across the civil service, stakeholders and partners. Publication of this report is therefore an important moment in time to pause and recognise what we have achieved, together.